Documents released by the Cabinet Office have revealed that Simon Case, the then cabinet secretary, advised Sir Keir Starmer to complete security vetting for Peter Mandelson before announcing his appointment as US ambassador. The disclosure comes as the prime minister prepares to make a statement to MPs on Monday over how Mandelson took up the role despite failing an initial vetting check.
The documents also show that Mandelson was offered a “higher tiers” briefing on 6 January, before his developed vetting was confirmed on 29 January. He failed his initial vetting by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV), a decision later overruled by the Foreign Office. Mandelson was appointed in December 2024 but sacked in September after new disclosures about his friendship with the late Jeffrey Epstein.
In a letter dated 11 November 2024, Case advised Starmer that for political appointees, the Foreign Office would “develop a plan for them to acquire the necessary security clearances and do due diligence on any potential conflicts of interest or other issues of which you should be aware before confirming your choice”. The appointment was announced just over a month later, on 20 December.
The scandal has already led to the sacking of Olly Robbins, the top civil servant at the Foreign Office, who is expected to appear before MPs on Tuesday. Downing Street has strongly disputed claims by Robbins’s allies that he was prevented by law from telling ministers Mandelson had failed vetting, arguing there was a difference between being involved in the decision and being informed about it.
Starmer has said he would not have appointed Mandelson had he known he had failed vetting, calling the fact that he was not told “astonishing” and “unforgivable”. He is set to set out the full facts in parliament on Monday, with a formal review of the national security system already announced.
